Bargaining

After breakfast, as everyone began to leave the dining hall, Ave exited the curtain area after the elders and the Emperor and Empress had left, she wouldn't want to bump into that woman even by mistake.

When she walked out, only the princesses and princes were left, some still eating and discussing, while others were getting acquainted and blushing as they talked in small voices. Her eyes briefly fell on their meals, and she realized it was different from what she had been served. She had been given two plates of boring meals she didn't even recognize, but she'd eaten them because she was hungry and needed a distraction.

She looked around the room, and her eyes fell on Lucian, who was not looking at her and was trying to listen to whatever Madeline was saying beside him, a huge smile on her face. Ave looked away from them and proceeded to the exit in hurried strides.